Can Implantation Bleeding Be Heavy?

When a woman becomes pregnant, the egg becomes implanted in the wall of the uterus. Some women may feel a sudden jolt of pain or cramps when this occurs, and bleeding is possible. Throughout the menstrual cycle, vaginal discharge and bleeding are normal. When these occur at the wrong times of the month or in abnormal amounts, it can be a sign of something more serious. If you believe that you could be pregnant and just experienced spotting, you may want to take a pregnancy test. If the test comes back negative, you may have to wait a few weeks for a positive result or you may want to consult with the doctor to figure out the cause of your bleeding.

How Heavy Can Implantation Bleeding Be?

For most people, implantation bleeding does not occur or it is extremely light. Although it is normally just spotting and extremely short, there are millions of women who have had heavier, more intense implantation bleeding. Depending on your hormones and genetics, implantation bleeding can last for a few hours or a few days. Often, it will occur on and off for several days before stopping on its own. Although it is normal for it to last certain amounts of time or be lighter, there are no rules for how your body specifically will handle implantation. In some cases, heavy implantation bleeding can last for up to four days.

When to Get Medical Help

It is normal to have implantation bleeding for a short period of time, and it is generally light. Although even heavy implantation bleeding is considered normal, there are some symptoms that you should watch out for. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should make an appointment with your doctor or seek immediate medical care because it could be a sign of a more serious problem. Heavy implantation bleeding can also be a sign of a miscarriage, so you need to make sure that you get medical help.

Post menopausal bleeding

Pathological spotting can be a sign of health conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids or cancer in the reproductive system.

Light-Headedness

Extreme Pain

Fatigue

The Difference Between Implantation Bleeding and Your Period

Think of Your Timing

Normally, the menstrual cycle can vary from 24 days to 40 days. On average, most women have a 28 day cycle and ovulation occurs 14 days before your period is expected to occur. When you conceive, it is always around ovulation. The egg is only present for 12 to 24 hours after ovulation, so fertilization must occur in this time period. Once the egg is fertilized, it implants on the wall of the uterus about 10 to 14 days later. When it implants, you may experience other symptoms. Many women who experience implantation bleeding do not realize what they are experiencing, since implantation occurs close to the time when they woman would normally start her menstrual cycle. If you do experience bleeding prior to the time that your period normally starts, it could be a sign of implantation.

How Does It Look?

The color of the blood during implantation and your period varies drastically. When you have implantation bleeding, it will generally be extremely light and you may only need a panty liner. Often, women only experience spotting at random or a single incidence of spotting.

When you have implantation bleeding, it will normally start out looking pink or brown before it turns into a darker color. This happens because it takes longer for the blood to travel through the vagina and the uterine walls. If the blood is from your menstrual cycle, it will normally be red in color and become heavier as time progresses instead of stopping.

Consider Your Symptoms

When you have your period, you normally experience cramps and similar symptoms. With implantation bleeding, you might not experience any symptoms or you could experience some cramping. Some women have reported experiencing symptoms like nausea, bloating, swollen breasts, increased basal body temperature, tender breasts and nausea. Symptoms that are normally considered a sign of pregnancy like increased sensitivity to smell, increased urination or fatigue are also considered signs of implantation bleeding.

By paying attention to your symptoms, the length of bleeding and the intensity of bleeding, you can figure out if you are having your period or implantation bleeding. If you think that your bleeding is heavier than it should be, make sure to get medical help because this could be a sign of a miscarriage or another health condition.

2663 COMMENTS

My Husband and I have been trying my period started and I was bleeding dark red heavily for two days now no period at all nothing it completely stopped. That has never happened to me before could I be pregnant? What should I do

It is possible that you experienced an unusual period. You may have had implantation bleeding. Continue to monitor your symptoms at this time. Take a pregnancy test. Confirm the result of your test with a medical professional. Best of luck, Genesis!

Me and my husband had sex a day after ovulation , and 6 days later I started feeling bad cramps no bleeding but i wasn’t able to lay on my back or stomach it was really uncomfortable for me to sleep which is not normal because it was a week before scheduled cycle then I started bleeding 6 days later 3 days before cycle was due im not having any more symptoms like I did before like light headed feeling nauseas nothing and my cycle lasted 4/5 days am I not pregnant

It is possible that you are experiencing symptoms of pregnancy. You may be having an unusual period. Continue to monitor your experiences at this time. Take a pregnancy test three days after your normal period date. Confirm the result of the test with a medical professional. Best of luck, Zoe!